OSHA probing plumber's electrocution death in Portsmouth
Accident occurred in Portsmouth condo
In an email to city councilors Tuesday morning, City Manager John Bohenko said the work being performed by the deceased, "may have involved replacement of an outlet."
"No building permit was issued for this work, and had one been issued, the work would have been required to be performed by a licensed electrician," Bohenko wrote. "We have requested that our inspector be allowed to investigate the unit more closely when the police are finished with their work, to determine exactly what occurred, and to ensure the unit is safe."
David Dufresne Jr.
By Elizabeth Dinan
edinan@seacoastonline.com
Posted Aug. 18, 2016 at 10:45 AM
Updated Aug 18, 2016 at 2:50 PM
PORTSMOUTH, NH – Police have confirmed a Rochester plumber died of an accidental electrocution while working in the McIntosh condominium building on Fleet Street Tuesday and the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration is investigating.
Detective Sgt. John Peracchi said the police investigation into the death of self-employed plumber David Dufresne Jr., 52, is complete. Further investigation will be conducted by OSHA, he said.
First responders were first notified about Dufresne's death on Aug. 18 at 8:13 a.m. by a 911 caller, Deputy Fire Chief Carl Roediger said Tuesday. According to the public police log, the fatal accident occurred on the sixth floor inside apartment number 2. Roediger said it appeared Dufresne was installing a dishwasher at the time.
Rose Ohar, OSHA's regional director, said her office opened an investigation after learning about Dufresne's death.
"Electrocution is one of our top hazards for fatalities around the country," she said. "So we're taking a close look."
Ohar said OSHA does not have jurisdiction over "sole proprietors," in other words private property, but is investigating anyway.
The public police log noted city inspectors were on scene at the 90 Fleet St. building Tuesday after police detectives cleared. Deputy City Manager Nancy Colbert Puff said Thursday that the city’s electrical inspector, John Plourde, returned to the scene Wednesday "to gain a better understanding as to what might have occurred."
"According to his observation, it appears that the deceased was in the process of installing a dishwasher, however, it also appears that the electrocution was not related to any electrical work being performed," she said. "Instead, he observed that the cord to the recently-installed (cooking) range was not installed per manufacturer’s recommended instructions. In the end, it appears that when the deceased was installing a copper line to the dishwasher, he made contact with the range, which did not have a ground fault path back to the overcurrent device, and ultimately resulted in his tragic passing."
Improperly grounding frames of electric ranges and clothes dryers.
Prior to the 1996 version of the NEC, it was common practice to use the neutral as an equipment ground. Now, however, all frames of electric ranges, wall-mounted ovens, counter-mounted cooking units, clothes dryers, and outlet or junction boxes that are part of these circuits must be grounded by a fourth wire: the equipment-grounding conductor.
An exception permits retention of the pre-1996 arrangement for existing branch-circuit installations only where an equipment-grounding conductor is not present. Several other conditions must be met. If possible, the best course of action is to run a new 4-wire branch circuit from the panel. If you must keep an old appliance, be sure to remove the neutral to frame bonding jumper if an equipment-grounding conductor is to be connected.
Puff said the city "extends its deepest sympathy to the family of the deceased."
An obituary for Dufresne reports he was born in Portsmouth on Aug. 22, 1963. It notes he was a master plumber, an avid hunter and enjoyed fishing, boating and lobstering. I guess the surviving animals and fish are relieved that he is dead.
"David cared deeply for his family and friends," his survivors wrote. "He was a kind, loving, warm and generous man who considered everyone he met a friend for life. If a friend was in need, David made a point to drop everything and lend a hand."
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Fatal accident in Portsmouth condo building under investigation
Electrocution is suspected
By Elizabeth Dinan
edinan@seacoastonline.com
Posted Aug. 16, 2016 at 12:17 PM
Updated Aug 16, 2016 at 6:43 PM
PORTSMOUTH, NH – Police are investigating an "untimely death" in the McIntosh Condominium building Tuesday morning that may have resulted from an apparent electrocution.
Deputy Fire Chief Carl Roediger said his department responded to the building at 8:13 a.m. for a call about a man in cardiac arrest. He said the man was deceased and there are "indications" that he may have been electrocuted. The deceased was later identified as David Dufresne Jr., 52, of Rochester.
"It looked like he was in the process of installing a dishwasher," Roediger said.
The deputy fire chief said a state medical examiner was called to the scene and the man's cause of death is inconclusive until that examiner makes a determination.
Police Sgt. Rich Webb said the fatality is being investigated by police detectives and preliminary findings indicate that the death was accidental.
In an email to city councilors Tuesday morning, City Manager John Bohenko said the work being performed by the deceased, "may have involved replacement of an outlet."
"No building permit was issued for this work, and had one been issued, the work would have been required to be performed by a licensed electrician," Bohenko wrote. "We have requested that our inspector be allowed to investigate the unit more closely when the police are finished with their work, to determine exactly what occurred, and to ensure the unit is safe."
SAMPLE WARNINGS OF OVEN AND DISHWASHER MANUFACTURERS TO AVOID SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH
You can be killed or seriously injured if you don't follow OVEN INSTALLATION instructions.
All safety messages will tell you what the potential hazard is, how to reduce the chance of injury, and what can happen if the instructions are not followed.
Remove all tape and packaging before using the appliance. Never allow children to play with packaging material. Do not remove the model/serial plate attached to the appliance.
Be sure your appliance is properly installed and grounded by a QUALIFIED TECHNICIAN in accordance with the National Fuel Gas Code ANSI Z223.1—latest edition in the United States, or in Canada CAN/CGA B149.1, and CAN/CGA B149.2, and the National Electrical Code ANSI/NFPA No. 70—latest
edition in United States, or in Canada CSA Standard C22.1, Canadian Electrical Code, Part 1, and local code requirements. Install only as per installation instructions provided in theliterature package for this appliance.
Proper Installation – The range, when installed, must be electrically grounded in accordance with local codes or, in the absence of local codes, with the National Electrical Code, ANSI/NFPA 70. In Canada, the range must be electrically grounded in accordance with Canadian Electrical Code. Be sure the range is properly installed and grounded by a qualified technician.
Electrical Requirements
Electrical Shock Hazard
Do not use an extension cord.
Failure to follow these instructions can result in death, fire, or electrical shock.
• Any additions, changes or conversions required in order for this appliance to satisfactorily meet the application needs must be made by a qualified service technician in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions and all codes and requirements of the authority having jurisdiction. Failure to follow the instructions could result in serious injury or property damage. The qualified agency performing this work assumes responsibility for the conversion.
• This appliance is not supplied with a plug. If you wish to install this appliance with a plug, it must installed by a qualified service technician. The plug must be a 4-prong, 3-phase plug that is designed specifically for freestanding ranges.
• This appliance can be installed directly to the main (without a plug). To do so, follow instructions in the “Electrical Connection” section. If you wish to install this appliance directly to the main (without a plug), it must be installed by a qualified service technician.
• DO NOT operate this appliance using a 2-prong adapter or an extension cord. If a 2-prong wall receptacle is the only available outlet, it is the personal responsibility of the consumer to have it replaced with a properly grounded 4-prong wall receptacle installed by a qualified electrician.
• Severe shock, or damage to the range may occur if the range is not installed by a qualified installer or electrician.
• This appliance features a pilotless electric ignition for energy savings and reliability. It is 220-240V/50-60Hz. With recommendation to connect to a 35 Amp power supply.
• A separate circuit, protected by a 15 amp time delay fuse or circuit breaker, is required.
• For personal safety, the appliance must be properly grounded.
• See the “Installation Instructions” packaged with this appliance for complete
installation and grounding instructions.
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The 10 Worst Grounding Mistakes You'll Ever Make
Why common errors in residential, commercial, and industrial wiring can lead to fire and electric shock hazards.
1. Improper replacement of non-grounding receptacles. Dwellings and non-dwellings often contain non-grounding receptacles (Photo 1). It's not the NEC's intent to immediately replace all noncompliant equipment with each new edition of the Code. In fact, it's perfectly fine to leave the old “two prongers” in place. But because an intact functioning equipment ground is such an obvious safety feature, most electricians tend to replace these old relics whenever possible.
Photo 1. This non-grounding receptacle is typical of those found in older homes across the country.
- Hook
up a new grounding receptacle on the theory that this is a step in the
right direction. This can lead future electricians and occupants to
believe they are fully protected by a non-functioning ground receptacle.
- Connect
the green grounding terminal of a grounded receptacle via a short
jumper to the grounded neutral conductor. This practice is totally
noncompliant and dangerous because when a load is connected, voltage
will appear on both the neutral and ground wires. Therefore, any
noncurrent-carrying appliance or tool case will become energized,
causing shock to the user, who is typically partially or totally
grounded.
- Run
an individual ground conductor from the green grounding terminal of a
grounded receptacle to the nearest water pipe or other grounded object.
This “floating ground” presents various hazards. It is likely that this
ground rod of convenience will have several ohms of ground resistance so
that, in case of ground fault within a connected tool or appliance, the
breaker will not trip — and exposed metal will remain energized.
- Run
an individual ground conductor back to the entrance panel and connect
it to the neutral bar or grounding strip. This solution is somewhat
better, but still noncompliant. Any grounding conductor must be within
the circuit cable or raceway. One objection is that an individual
conductor could be damaged or removed in the course of work taking place
in the future.
- The
best approach is to run a new branch circuit back to the panel,
verifying presence of a valid ground. Because this procedure usually
involves fishing cable behind walls or, in some cases, removing and then
replacing wall finish, it's not always feasible unless a total rewiring
job is being performed.
- Another
possibility is to replace the two-prong receptacle with a GFCI. Hook up
the two wires and leave the grounding terminal unattached. Included
with the GFCI is a sticker that says, “No equipment ground.” This
sticker must be in place so that future electricians and users are not
misled. The thinking behind this strategy is that even though the tool
or appliance case is not grounded, the GFCI will provide enhanced
safety. It's important to note that a GFCI functions properly without
the presence of a grounding conductor. The device compares current
flowing through the hot and neutral conductors and trips if a difference
of more than 5 milliamps is detected.
- Non-grounding
receptacles are still manufactured. If replacement is necessary (and
acquiring a ground is not feasible), installation of a new non-grounding
receptacle is a way to go.
If you look at a number of satellite dish installations in your neighborhood, a certain percentage will inevitably not be grounded at all. Of those that are grounded, there is still a high probability many are not fully compliant. For example, the grounding electrode conductor could be too long, too small, have unlisted clamps at terminations, have excess bends, or be connected to a single ground rod but not be bonded to other system grounds.
For NEC purposes, a satellite dish is an antenna, and installation requirements are found in Chapter 8, Communications Systems. Article 810, Radio and Television Equipment, details the installation requirements. Part II deals with receiving Equipment — Antenna Systems. This type of equipment, which includes the satellite dish, must have a listed antenna discharge unit, which can be either outside the building or inside between the point of entrance of the lead-in conductors and the receiver — and as near as possible to the entrance of the conductors to the building. The antenna discharge unit is not to be located near combustible material and certainly not within a hazardous (classified) location.
The antenna discharge unit must be grounded. The grounding conductor is usually copper; however, you can use aluminum or copper-clad aluminum if it's not in contact with masonry or earth. Outside, aluminum or copper-clad aluminum cannot be within 18 inches of the earth.
Photo
2. Grounding means for a satellite dish must be located at the point of
entrance to the building. In this particular installation, the
grounding conductor is integral with the coax from the dish, but the
installer did not bond it to other system grounds.
- Grounding electrode system.
- Grounded interior metal water piping system within 5 feet of point of entrance to the building.
- Power service accessible grounding means external to the building.
- Metallic power service raceway.
- Service equipment enclosure.
- Grounding electrode conductor or its metal enclosure.
Where separate electrodes are used, you must connect the antenna discharge unit grounding means to the premises power system grounding system by a 6 AWG copper conductor. Needless to say, grounding a satellite dish goes well beyond simply driving a ground rod at the point of entrance.
Grounding for CATV is slightly different. Typically, CATV is brought into the building via coaxial cable, which has a center conductor, insulating spacer, and outer electrical shield. Because of the spacer, capacitive coupling is diminished so that the cable provides a high-quality signal for data, voice, and video transmission. Improper grounding of coaxial cable used for CATV is very common.
There is no antenna discharge unit as required for satellite dish installation. Instead, the shield of the coaxial cable is connected to an insulated grounding conductor that is limited to copper but may be stranded or solid. The grounding conductor is 14 AWG minimum so that it has current-carrying capacity approximately equal to the outer shield of the coaxial cable.
The major distinguishing characteristic is that for one- and two-family homes the grounding conductor cannot exceed 20 feet in length and should preferably be shorter. If a grounding electrode such as the Intersystem Bonding Termination is not within 20 feet, it is necessary to drive a ground rod for that purpose. However, even after this dedicated grounding means is established, in order to be NEC-compliant, the installation must have a bonding jumper not smaller than 6 AWG or equivalent, which is connected between the CATV system's grounding electrode and the power grounding electrode system for the building. Omitting this jumper is a serious Code violation, second only to no grounding at all. You must bond all system grounds, antenna, power, CATV, telephone, and so on with a heavy bonding jumper.
3. Non-installation of GFCIs where required. Recent Code editions have mandated increased use of GFCIs. In dwelling units, GFCIs are required on all 125V, single-phase, 15A and 20A receptacles in: bathrooms; garages; accessory buildings with a floor at or below grade level not intended as a habitable room, limited to storage, work and similar areas; outdoors; kitchens along countertops; within 6 feet of outside edge of laundry, utility, and wet bar sinks; and boathouses. In other than dwelling units, GFCIs are required on all 125V, single-phase, 15A and 20A receptacles in bathrooms, kitchens, rooftops, outdoors, and within 6 feet of the outside edge of sinks.
Other areas requiring the use of GFCIs include: boat hoists, aircraft hangars, drinking fountains, cord- and plug-connected vending machines, high-pressure spray washers, hydromassage bathtubs, carnivals, circuses, fairs (and the like), electrically operated pool covers, portable or mobile electric signs, electrified truck parking space supply equipment, elevators, dumbwaiters, escalators, moving walks, platform lifts/stairway chairlifts, fixed electric space heating cables, fountains, commercial garages, electrical equipment for naturally and artificially made bodies of water, pipeline heating, therapeutic pools and tubs, boathouses, construction sites, health-care facilities, marinas/boatyards, pools, recreational vehicles, sensitive electronic equipment, spas, and hot tubs.
4. Improperly connecting the equipment-grounding conductor to the system neutral. You must connect a grounded neutral conductor to normally noncurrent-carrying metal parts of equipment, raceways, and enclosures only through the main bonding jumper (or, in the case of a separately derived system, through a system bonding jumper). Make this connection at the service disconnecting means, not downstream. When you buy a new entrance panel, a screw or other main bonding jumper is usually included in the packaging. Attached to it are instructions stipulating that it is to be installed only when the panel is to be used as service equipment.
It's a major error to install a main bonding jumper in a box used as a subpanel fed by a 4-wire feeder. It's also wrong not to install it when the panel is used as service equipment. Improper redundant connection of grounded neutral to equipment-grounding conductors can result in objectionable circulating current and presence of voltage on metal tool or appliance casings. You should connect grounded neutral and equipment-grounding conductors at the service disconnect. Then separate them — never to rejoin again. Additional optional ground rods may be connected anywhere along the equipment-grounding conductor but never to the grounded neutral.
5. Improperly grounding frames of electric ranges and clothes dryers.
Prior to the 1996 version of the NEC, it was common practice to use the neutral as an equipment ground. Now, however, all frames of electric ranges, wall-mounted ovens, counter-mounted cooking units, clothes dryers, and outlet or junction boxes that are part of these circuits must be grounded by a fourth wire: the equipment-grounding conductor.
An exception permits retention of the pre-1996 arrangement for existing branch-circuit installations only where an equipment-grounding conductor is not present. Several other conditions must be met. If possible, the best course of action is to run a new 4-wire branch circuit from the panel. If you must keep an old appliance, be sure to remove the neutral to frame bonding jumper if an equipment-grounding conductor is to be connected.
6. Failure to ground submersible well pumps. At one time, submersible well pumps were not required to be grounded because they were not considered accessible. However, it was noted that workers would pull the pump, lay it on the ground, and energize it to see if it would spin. If, due to a wiring fault, the case became live, the overcurrent device would not function, causing a shock hazard. The 2008 NEC requires a fourth equipment-grounding conductor that you must now lug to the top of the well casing. Many people assume that in a 3-wire submersible pump system one wire is a “ground.” In actuality, submersible pump cable consists of three wires (plus equipment-grounding conductor) twisted together and unjacketed. Yellow is a common 240V leg, black is run, and red is start, which the control box energizes for a short period of time. Prior to the new grounding requirement, everything was hot.
7. Failure to properly attach the ground wire to electrical devices. Wiring daisy-chained devices in such a way that removing one of them breaks the equipment grounding continuity is a common problem. The preferred way to ground a wiring device is to connect incoming and outgoing equipment-grounding conductors to a short bare or green jumper. The bare or green insulated jumper is then connected to the grounding terminal of the device.
8. Failure to install a second ground rod where required. A single ground rod that does not have a resistance to ground of 25 ohms or less must be augmented by a second ground rod. Once the second ground rod is installed, it's not necessary for the two to meet the resistance requirement. As a practical matter, few electricians do the resistance measurement.
Figure. Non-overlapping effective resistance areas reduce net resistance.
9. Failure to properly reattach metal raceway that is used as an equipment-grounding conductor. When equipment is relocated, replaced, or removed for repair, many times equipment ground paths are broken. If these connections are not fixed, there's an accident waiting to happen (Photo 3). Setscrews, locknuts, and threads should be fully engaged and continuity tests performed before equipment is put back into service. Dirt and corrosion can also compromise ground continuity.
Photo 3. Standard locknuts or bushings shall not be the sole connection for grounding purposes.
10. Failure to bond equipment ground to water pipe. Improper connections are often seen in the field. Screw clamps and other improvised connections do not provide permanent low impedance bonding. The worst method would be to just wrap the wire around the pipe or to omit this bonding altogether.
Photo 4. Someone used a water pipe clamp to improperly connect a ground wire to this ground rod.